Cigarette tax renewal has backers in Louisiana Legislature

While a bill to raise the state's cigarette tax by 70 cents a pack is
unlikely to make it out of a House committee when it comes up for
debate this week, House Speaker Jim Tucker said members might look
favorably on a separate measure to renew a 4-cent portion of the
existing tax. Lawmakers on the Ways & Means Committee will take up
both measures by Rep. Harold Ritchie, D-Franklinton, on Monday.

Rep. Harold Ritchie, D-Franklinton

Although Gov. Bobby Jindal has said he is against renewing the tax,
which is due to expire in 2012, Tucker said some members might be
willing to buck the governor and send the measure to the floor. "There
are a number of members of the committee, staunch conservatives, who
feel that's a reasonable position to take on a continuation of a tax,"
Tucker said. "We don't want to lower taxes on cigarettes. We don't want
to make it easier for children to buy cigarettes, and I think a lot of
people feel that way."